Staffing shortages dating back to the recession have forced Hermosa Beach to reckon with the future of fire services delivery in the city. Two options — dedicating increased funds for a fully staffed department or contracting for fire services with the Los Angeles County Fire Department — will be available for the City Council to choose from, with the final decision likely coming in November.
In the meanwhile, Interim Fire Chief Pete Bonano is giving a series of presentations to community groups, large and small, to inform residents about what the different options look like. A forum held last week featured financial figures revealing the county to be a more affordable option, but also skepticism among some residents about the benefits of contracting with the county. While it is far from clear whether those residents represent the views represent the majority of Hermosans, the tense emotions surrounding the issue will complicate the council’s ultimate decision.
Bonano is offically neutral on the matter, and stresses that he is only trying to present facts. Under either option, Bonano said, Hermosa will still have its own fire station.
“A fire station will remain in town. This conversation is really about what this patch is going to say,” Bonano said, tugging at the left-sleeve of his department-issue uniform.
Nonetheless, the benefits of the county option were immediately apparent from his presentation. According to a department study released last week, a fully staffed independent fire department would cost the city an estimated $6.254 million annually, an increase of about half a million dollars from current expenditure levels. A contract with the county department would cost $4.9 million per year.
The increased costs would come from added staff. The department currently mans a five-person shift. With only 15 firefighters in the department, and some of these occasionally gone due to workplace injury, the department has been stretched thin, cancelling vacations for firefighters last Christmas. Extensive overtime is leading to depressed morale, and exhaustion could eventually compromise firefighters’ work.
“One paramedic said his wife wants him to quit. Others are having marriage problems,” Bonano said. “It’s tough on home life. They’re tired, and they’re looking for relief.”
Regardless of which option the city chooses, it will need to rebuild its fire station. The station has been closed for months, with firefighters working out of temporary portables typically associated with school campuses. By choosing to maintain its own department, the city would need to build what’s known as a “headquarters station,” while going with the county would allow for building a “neighborhood station,” which would be about $5 million cheaper, because it would not have to house the administrative staff required for a full, independent department.
The majority of audience concern, however, were not financial in nature. Residents expressed appreciation for the rapid arrivals of the Hermosa department, and concern that it could disappear with a county takeover.
“It’s misleading. That sign on the wall says ‘First-class services,’” one resident said, pointing to long-term planning documents posted on the wall of city council chambers. “But you’re telling us we’re going to be just like any other city.”
Scott Hale, an acting assistant chief with the Los Angeles County department, said that response times would not differ under the county. Units would be stationed in the same place they are now.
The connection between the city and its department remained a point of contention. Some residents worried about the city getting lost in the mix of the vast service network of the county.
Bonano challenged this interpretation, arguing that a county department could be even more locally connected. Many county fire fighters live locally, while most of the current Hermosa department lives distant from the city. At one point, Bonano listed their cities of residence, naming far-flung municipalities as Tehachapi, Goleta and Big Bear.
